Thursday Vrat

THURSDAY VRAT :
Note: * We worship Lord Vishnu this day
· Eat food only once , the food should include Bengal gram(chana dal) and no salt
· The yellow colour is significant - wear yellow clothes, offer yellow flowers.
· Banana is worshipped on this day.
Story related to this vrat:

Once there was a very benevolent god fearing King who was known for his generosity , no one ever returned empty handed from his court. He used to worship and perform vrat on Thursdays. His wife however, was just his opposite and used to resent his giving donations and performing pujas and vrats.
Once the King left for the forests for hunting leaving behind his Queen with her maids.
Lord Vishnu, in disguise of a Monk (Sadhu) approached the queen and asked for alms( donation , bhiksha). The Queen , true to her character told Him that she was fed up of all the wealth she possessed as this was not giving her happiness, and wished that the wealth be taken away from her. The Lord was surprised because it is believed that children and money bring happiness and everyone aspires to have them. He advised her that if she possessed surplus wealth , she should utilize it to feed the poor, donate to Brahmins, construct wells and Dharamshalas( resting places for monks and devoted people), develop gardens etc. However the Queen would have none of it and was adamant that her wish be fulfilled. The Monk finally told her that Lord would fulfill her desires -- to make her wish come true, she should cover the house with cowdung, wash her hair, ask the King to shave, eat and drink etc. for seven Thursdays.
The Queen followed his instructions and after three Thursdays only all her wealth was finished and she was left to lead a life of penury, hunger and misery. The King too decided to leave the town in search for some work. He took up the job of a woodcutter and could barely manage two meals.
In dire straits, the maids advised the Queen to approach her wealthy sister for help. A maid was sent to the sister but she could not meet her as she was busy listening to the story of Thursday vrat . The sister did not want to get interrupted and therefore did not acknowledge her presence. However she visited the Queen later and seeing her condition advised her to perform the Thursday vrat and worship the Lord .
When Thursday came, the Queen somehow managed to arrange for the puja and offerings and prayed to Lord Vishnu. This went on for some weeks and finally the God bestowed all her wealth once again. Having fulfilled her desires for wealth, the Queen started to feel lazy in performing vrats on Thursdays but her maids cautioned her that she should not forget that the Lord was gracious in returning her wealth and she should ever remain grateful to Him.
The Queen realised her mistake and made it a ritual to perform vrats on Thursadays.

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The meaning of fast

The word fasting means to move near( to the Supreme) and by implication to overcome helplessness. A calamity has always been an occasion for prayer, we normally pray for a positive reason like asking for a boon, other reasons include appeasement of an anger deity.
It is believed that no prayer can be complete unless it is accompanied by an offering.

MANGALVAR KI KAHANI

Mangalvar ki Kahani - II

Tuesday is devoted to Lora Hanuman. The devotees listen to this story before breaking their fast in the afternoon. The wrestlers do not massage their bodies on this day to avoid hairfalllng. Some wrestlers observe Tuesday as a rest day.

Once there was an old lady. She used to observe Tuesday fast. She enjoyed all sorts of prosperity. Her daughter-in-law used to give her four loaves on every Tuesday. She used to go to the Hanuman Temple and offered two loaves there. The remaining two she ate herself and felt satisfied.

Once the daughter-in-law asked her children to follow their grandmother and to keep a watch over her activities. Her grandsons noticed that their grandmother offered two loaves to Lord Hanuman and broke her fast with the remaining two. They reported the matter to their mother. Their mother thought that the old lady was wasting two loaves and decided to cook two loaves only.

On the next Tuesday, the daughter-in-law gave her only two loaves. The old lady went to the Hanuman temple arid offered one loaf to Hanuman and broke her fast with the remaining one. Her grandsons noticed her and reported the matter to their mother.Their mother thought that the old lady was wasting one loaf and decided to give her one loaf only.

The old lady accepted one loaf on the coming Tuesday and went to the Hanuman temple. She offered half a loaf to lord Hanuman and broke her fast with the other half. Her grandson noticed it and reported again to their mother. Their mother thought that the old lady was wasting her food at familys expense. She decided not to give her any loaf on Tuesdays.

The old lady went to the Hanuman temple empty-handed. She had nothing to offer. Lord Hanuman appeared before her as a young boy and said, O, old ma, what ails you? The old lady related the whole story to the young boy. The young boy said, Why dont you erect a cottage of yours behind this temple? Take me as your son. I shall arrange food for you. What is the use of living with a family which does not care for its elders!The old lady agreed and started living in the cottage. Everyday the young boy would bring a mug full of milk and a lump of crushed bread mixed with sugar and butter (churma) for her. Her life was now very happy and peaceful. The old ladys daughter-in-law became poorer and poorer day-after-day. Unwanted quarrels broke out in the house due to poverty. They had little to eat. One day she said to her children, Go to your grandmother and observe what she does.

The children went to their grandmother. The old lady welcomed them. She shared milk and Churma with them and asked them to visit her everyday. The children went back to their house and related the whole thing to their mother. She was surprised to know that the old lady was hale and hearty instead of growing weak. She realised her mistake and asked her husband to bring her back.

Her husband said, Why should I go? You are responsible for our sufferings. You make quarrels in the family everyday. You forced her to leave this house. You were jealous of her even for meager meals. This house lost its prosperity the moment she left us. You have no regards for your elders and their noble deeds.

The lady said, Let all of us go to her. We shall convince her that she should come back. Her husband agreed and they went to the old lady. The young boy was sitting with her and serving her food. The old ladys daughter-in-law fell at the feet of her mother-in-law and begged pardon of her for her misdeeds. The old lady said to the young boy; Should I accompany them as they have realised their mistake? The young boy said, Yes, you may. If you face any difficulty, you may come back. The old lady returned to her family. She observed Tuesday fasts and her daughter-in-law never objected to her giving half of her food to Lord Hanuman. Prosperity again visited their house and they lived a happy life.

Yoga: Surya Namaskar - "Salute to the Sun"

SATYANARAYAN AARTI

Shri Satyanarayanjiki Aarti – Jai Lakshmi Ramana
Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana, Swami Jai Lashmi Ramana |
Satyanarayan Swami, Satyanarayan Swami, Jan Patak Harana || Jai Lakshmi Ramana
Ratan Ja Rat Singhasan, Adhbut Chabee Rajey, Swami Adhbut Chabee Rajey |
Narad Kahat Niranjan, Narad Kahat Niranjan, Ghanta dhun bhajey ||
Jai Lakshmi Ramana …..1
Pragat Bhaye Kali Karan, DwijKo Daras Diya Swami Dwij Ko Daras Diya |
Budha Brahman Bankey, Budha Brahman Bankey, Kanchan Mahal Kiya ||
Jai Lakshmi Ramana …..2
Durbal Bhil Kathier, Jan Par Kripa Karey Swami Jan Par Kripa Karey |
Chandra Choor Ik Raja, Chandra ChoorIk Raja, Jinaki Vipat Hare ||
Jai Lakshmi Ramana......3
Vaishya Manorath Payo, Shradha Uj Dini Swami Shradha Uj Dini |
So Fal Bhogyo Prabhuji, So Fal Bhogyo Prabhuji, Fer Ustati Kini ||
Jai Lakshmi Ramana.......4
Bhav Bhakti Ke Karan, Chhin Chhin Roop Dharya Swami Chhin Chhin Roop Dharya |
Sharda Dharan Kini, Sharda Dharan Kini, Tin Ka Karj Sarya ||
Jai Lakshmi Ramana.......5
Gwal Bal Sang Raja, Ban Mein Bhagti Karey Swami Ban Mein Bhagti Karey |
Man Vanchit Fal Dino, Man Vanchit Fal Dino, Deen Dayal Harey ||
Jai Lakshmi Ramana.......6
Charhat Prasad Sawayo, Kadali Fal Mewa Swami Kadali Fal Mewa |
Doop Deep Tulsi Se, Doop Deep Tulsi Se, Raje Sat Deva ||
Jai Lakshmi Ramana........7
Shri Satya Narayan Ji Ki Aarti jo koi gaa~vey Swami jo koi ga~vey |
Kahat Shivanand Swami, Kahat Shivanand Swami Man Vanchhit Fal Pave ||
Jai Lakshmi Ramana........8
Om Jai Lakshmi Ramana, Swami Jai Lashmi Ramana |
Satyanarayan Swami, Satyanarayan Swami, Jan Patak Harana || Jai Lakshmi Ramana

SATYANARAYAN AND THE RECIPE OF SHIRA PRASAD

The Satyanarayana Puja is usually done on the Purnima day of every month (the day of the full moon) or a Sankranti. It is also done on special occasions and during times of achievements as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions include marriage, graduation, new job, and the purchase of a new home to name a few. The puja starts by a prayer to Lord Ganesha, to remove all obstacles that may occur as a result of incorrectly performing the puja. This is done by chanting all the names of Lord Ganesha and offering prasad (a food offering, usually consisting of one of Lord Ganesha's favorite foods - modak, a sugar and coconut mixture, or ladu) and the showering of flower petals.

Recipe for making Shira:

Quantity: 7-8 Plates Shira.

Material: 2 Vati Rava (Sooji), 1¾ Vati Sugar, ½ Vati Ghee, Badam (Almonds), Manuka (Resins), Charoli, Keshar (Saffron), Banana

Procedure:

1. Roast Rava in a utensil in ghee to make it well done i.e. color changes to brownish.
2. Add same amount of water as Rava if it is fine,.
3. Add water 1½ times the quantity of Rava, if Rava is coarse.
4. Heat & stir well till the water evaporates.
5. Add sugar & heat again.
6. Add Almond pieces, small circular pieces of banana, saffron, elaychi powder etc…
7. Control the heat & stir well to ensure that the lumps are not formed; shira is not too thick nor too thin like paste.

 

SATYANARAYAN 18TH FEB.-KATHA CHAPTER 5

Om Sai Ram~~~

Chapter 5~~~


Sutji said, "Oh people, listen further to another story."


A king named Tungdhwaj was famous for his generosity to his subjects. But he had to suffer a lot, due to the disrespect he had shown to the prayer of Lord Satyanarayanji & his prasad, which he did not accept when it was offered to him.


One day, when hunting in a forest, he sat down under a tree. There he saw a few villagers doing the prayer of Lord Satyanarayanji. The King saw all this but due to his false ego, niether did he join them nor bowed down to the idol of the Lord. When the villagers gave him the prasad, he did not accept it & went away from there.


When the King reached his Kingdom, he saw that everything was destroyed & all his 100 sons were lying dead on the floor. The King realised that this had happened all due to his false ego. So thinking, he started walking towards the place where the villagers were doing their prayers. There, with them, he did the prayers of Lord Satyanarayanji & had the prasad & the charna-amrit (ie. milk, sugar, curds, tulsi leaves & honey mixed together) & put it in all his son's mouths. By doing this, all his sons became alright. He got back all his wealth & comforts of life & finally in the end, after he died, he went to heaven.


Anybody who keeps this fast with full faith & recite the prayers of Lord Satyanarayanji; all his wishes will be fulfilled. With the grace of the Lord, he will get eternity; the wealthless will receive wealth; & will go to heaven & finally will come out of the circle of birth & death.
The names of the persons who kept this fast & took re-birth are as follows :--The Brahmin took birth as Sudama & in his entire life he served the Lord Krishna & attained moksha. King Ulkamuk took birth as King Dashrath, & in that life he became the father of Lard Rama & attained eternity. The merchant took birth as King Morad, who cut his son in half & offered to the Lord & got moksha. King Tunghdwaj took birth as Kewat, who took Lord Rama across the river, served him & got moksha.


In this way, whoever does Lord Satyanarayan's prayer will be free from all sorrows & will ultimately reach heaven & get moksha.


This chapter of Lord Satyanarayanji is over. All chant (say) Lord Satyanarayanji ki Jai~